Headstrong Swope helps set tone

Updated 12:32 am, Friday, November 2, 2012

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Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) catches a pass for a touchdown past Auburn defensive end Craig Sanders (13) during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012, in Auburn, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill) (Associated Press)

Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) catches a pass for a touchdown past Auburn defensive end Craig Sanders (13) during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Oct. 27, 2012, in

Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) runs against LSU defenders, including Jalen Collins, during the second half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, in College Station, Texas. LSU

Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) screams after making a completion against LSU during the first half of their NCAA college football game, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Kayne)

A&M's Ryan Swope (25) gets his helmet knocked off as he came up the a first down against LSU's Tharold Simon (24) during the first half of a college football game at Kyle Stadium, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012, in College Station.

A&M's Ryan Swope (25) gets his helmet knocked off as he came up the a first down against LSU's Tharold Simon (24) during the first half of a college football game at Kyle Stadium, Saturday, Oct. 20, 2012,

OXFORD, MS - OCTOBER 06: Ryan Swope #25 of the Texas A&M Aggies is stripped of the ball by Cody Prewitt #25 of the Ole Miss Rebels during a game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on October 6, 2012 in Oxford, Mississippi. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) (Getty Images)

OXFORD, MS - OCTOBER 06: Ryan Swope #25 of the Texas A&M Aggies is stripped of the ball by Cody Prewitt #25 of the Ole Miss Rebels during a game at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium on October 6, 2012 in Oxford,

Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) celebrates his 80 yard pass for touchdown with quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) during the second half of a college football game at Kyle Field, Saturday, Sept. 29,

Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope celebrates after scoring on a touchdown reception during the second quarter of an NCAA football game against SMU at Ford Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 15, 2012, in Dallas.

Texas A&M University wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) is crushed by University of Florida defensive back Jaylen Watkins (14) on a short yardage catch during the third quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, at Kyle Field in College Station. The University of Florida won 20-17.

Texas A&M University wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) is crushed by University of Florida defensive back Jaylen Watkins (14) on a short yardage catch during the third quarter of a NCAA football game, Saturday,

Texas A&M University wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) fails to make a catch as the Aggie offense fails during the fourth quarter of a NCAA football game against the University of Florida, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2012, at Kyle Field in College Station. The University of Florida won 20-17.

Texas A&M University wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) fails to make a catch as the Aggie offense fails during the fourth quarter of a NCAA football game against the University of Florida, Saturday, Sept. 8,

Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope shows off the new helmet, with grey facemask, and striped Adidas jersey on Thursday at the team's uniform unveiling in College Station. (Roger Zhang / The Battalion)

Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope shows off the new helmet, with grey facemask, and striped Adidas jersey on Thursday at the team's uniform unveiling in College Station. (Roger Zhang / The Battalion)

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Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) is sandwinched between Kansas Dexter Linton (32) and Keeston Terry (9) during the first half of the college football game at Texas A&M, Nov. 19, 2011. Texas A&M was leading Kansas 44-0 at the half.

Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) runs into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kansas on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Karen Warren) MANDATORY CREDIT

Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) runs into the end zone for a touchdown during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Kansas on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, in College Station, Texas.

CORRECTS TO KANSAS, NOT KANSAS STATE - Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) kneels in the end zone after getting a touchdown against Kansas during the first half of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 19, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Karen Warren) MANDATORY CREDIT

Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) catches a touchdown pass during the first half of the college football game at Texas A&M, Nov. 19, 2011. Texas A&M was leading Kansas 44-0 at the half.

Texas A&M Aggies wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) catches a touchdown pass during the first half of the college football game at Texas A&M, Nov. 19, 2011. Texas A&M was leading Kansas 44-0 at the half.

Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle

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Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) catches a pass in the end zone under pressure from Kansas State defensive back David Garrett (27) to score a touchdown during the second quarter of an NCAA college football game on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, in Manhattan, Kan.

Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) catches a pass in the end zone under pressure from Kansas State defensive back David Garrett (27) to score a touchdown during the second quarter of an NCAA college

Texas A&M's Ryan Swope (25) runs the ball in for a touchdown while teammate Jeff Fuller (8) celebrates during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Baylor, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, in College Station, Texas. Texas A&M won 55-28. (AP Photo/Jon Eilts)

Texas A&M's Ryan Swope (25) runs the ball in for a touchdown while teammate Jeff Fuller (8) celebrates during the second half of an NCAA college football game against Baylor, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, in

Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman, right, celebrates with Ryan Swope, left, after Swope scored during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Baylor, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/Jon Eilts)

Texas A&M head coach Mike Sherman, right, celebrates with Ryan Swope, left, after Swope scored during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Baylor, Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, in College

Texas A&M's Ryan Swope, right, outruns Baylor's Sam Holl, left, during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Oct. 15, 2011, in College Station, Texas. Swope scored on the play. (AP Photo/Jon Eilts)

Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) leaps into the end zone for a touchdown as Idaho safety Quin Ashley (12) defends during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011, in College Station, Texas. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) leaps into the end zone for a touchdown as Idaho safety Quin Ashley (12) defends during the first quarter of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2011,

Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) keeps his balance after making a catch on a pass from Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, not pictured, as Oklahoma linebacker Tom Wort (21) tries to make the tackle near the 5-yard line in the first quarter of an NCAA Football game between Texas A&M and Oklahoma at Kyle Field on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010, in College Station. The Aggies won 33-19.

Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) and quarterback Ryan Tannehill, right, jump on tight end Hutson Prioleau, center, after he caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Tannehill that gave the Aggies an 8-0 lead with 12:02 to play in the first quarter of an NCAA Football game between Texas A&M and Oklahoma at Kyle Field on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010, in College Station. The Aggies won 33-19.

Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) and quarterback Ryan Tannehill, right, jump on tight end Hutson Prioleau, center, after he caught a 1-yard touchdown pass from Tannehill that gave the Aggies an 8-0

Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) runs for a 64-yard touchdown reception on a pass from Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill, not pictured, that gave the Aggies a 33-17 lead with 7:50 to play in the fourth quarter of an NCAA Football game between Texas A&M and Oklahoma at Kyle Field on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010, in College Station. Texas A&M wound up winning 33-19 taking the upset victory on its last home game of the season.

Texas A&M wide receiver Ryan Swope (25) keeps his balance after making a catch on a pass from Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill (not pictured) as Oklahoma linebacker Tom Wort (21) tries to make the tackle near the 5-yard line in the first quarter of an NCAA Football game between Texas A&M and Oklahoma at Kyle Field on Saturday, Nov. 6, 2010, in College Station.

Swope is a rock with wheels, and one of A&M's top all-time receivers who, in four seasons, has fought through four concussions that likely would have sidelined most men.

“It's just a motor I have, whether I get hit in the head or sprain an ankle, I don't want to miss a practice and I really don't want to miss a game,” Swope said.

When Swope was lying on the Independence Stadium field in the first half after a hit to the head by a Louisiana Tech defender Oct. 13, some thought his career might be over considering his history of head injuries. Seven days later, he was at Kyle Field contributing 10 catches in the Aggies' 24-19 loss to No. 5 LSU.

“We took it slow,” said Swope, whose No. 16 Aggies play at No. 15 Mississippi State at 11 a.m. Saturday. “I got with the doctors, and the (injury) wasn't as bad as we thought. We wanted to be cautious because it's your brain you're messing with, of course, so we took it cautiously.”

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Swope, who trails only former teammate Jeff Fuller in three of the school's all-time receiving categories, is aware of the recent attention head injuries have received in football, and the studies shedding light on the subject. But he's not obsessed with them. The journal Neurology recently revealed that NFL veterans are three to four times more likely than others to contract and die from Parkinson's, Alzheimer's or Lou Gehrig's diseases.

“I'm not a doctor so I don't really look at all of that, I just go out and play football,” Swope said. “You do have to be careful. But luckily, every concussion I've suffered has been minor, and I've healed quickly.”

Swope (6 feet, 206 pounds) is a key part of a unit leading the Southeastern Conference in total offense, scoring offense and rushing offense behind magnificent freshman quarterback Johnny Manziel. The Aggies are second in passing offense with 303 yards per game.

While Swope missed most of the Louisiana Tech game, he's been the top receiver in each of the past two contests — with 10 catches for 81 yards against LSU and six catches for 140 yards in a 63-21 thrashing at Auburn. A year ago in the Aggies' last go-round in the Big 12, Swope turned in the top receiving season in school history with 89 catches for 1,207 yards.

New coaching staffs rarely know exactly what they've inherited, but first-year A&M coach Kevin Sumlin and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury are thrilled with Swope playing his final season under their guidance.

“It's been great, especially for the younger receivers and for Johnny, to watch a guy like that who's played so much, give that much effort in practice and in games,” Kingsbury said. “For him to have this kind of success in two different leagues tells you the type of player that he is.”